Do You Have the Courage to Fail?

We sometimes like to think that the people who reach the highest level of success in any field have somehow conquered failure. These people have reached a level of mastery where they consistently get it right every time. But as Michael Jordan reminds us in this spot, real success isn’t about “not failing.” It can also be about not being afraid to take risks and fail.

Consider this the next time you have a patient who tells you they only want to do what their insurance will cover. Embrace the challenge and do your best to help them see the value beyond what their coverage can provide. In many of those situations — probably in most of them — you will not be successful right then. But that’s all right, because in some situations you will, or you will find that the patient eventually comes around to your way of thinking months or even years later. The point is, you’ll never know if you don’t present to the best of your ability, every single time. If you are really committed to success, you need the courage to fail.